Afghan women have described their lives as unrecognisable after five years of Taliban rule, citing public floggings, the loss of employment and obstacles to healthcare that they say endanger lives.
Accounts from women across the country point to profound changes in daily life since the Taliban returned to power. The women described a society in which access to work and essential services has been sharply affected, with consequences for their livelihoods, safety and health.
Some women said they had lost their jobs under Taliban rule. The loss of employment was presented not only as a professional setback but as a direct blow to women’s ability to earn a living and support themselves or their families.
Others described barriers to healthcare that have made it harder for women to obtain medical help. According to the accounts, those restrictions or obstacles can have life-threatening consequences, particularly where timely treatment is needed.
Public floggings were also among the experiences described by women, forming part of a wider picture of public punishment and social control under Taliban rule.
Five years on, the latest accounts indicate that women in different parts of Afghanistan continue to report severe disruption to their lives, with employment, access to healthcare and public treatment among the central concerns raised.
